[This Document is the Property of His Britannic Majesty's Government.]
CHINA TRADE,
CONFIDENTIAL.
[4231]
No. 1.
6762
454
[February 1.1
TREE BUTIH OF
SECTION 2.
(No. 20.) Sir,
Sir J. Jordan to Sir Edward Grey.~(Received February 1.)
Peking, January 12, 1909. WITH reference to your telegram No. 5 of the 5th January and my telegram No. 14 of the 8th January, I have the honour to report the result of my interview on the latter date at the Wai-wu Pu on the subject of the Arrangement concluded in 1907 for the gradual and provisional restriction of Indo-Chinese opium and the expediency of excluding it from the scope of the forthcoming Opium Commission at Shanghae.
I informed the Ministers who received me, the Grand Secretary Na and his Excel- lency Liang Tung-yen, that I had come specially to ascertain the attitude which they proposed to adopt at the Conference and what questions were likely to be raised. It was necessary that the Commissioners should know what was expected of them, and for this purpose instructions would have to be issued for their guidance. As for as His Majesty's Government understood the position, an Arrangement had been made between them and China for the gradual decrease of the Indian export for an experimental period of three years, and it was presumed that there was no intention of revising this proçedure before the expiration of the above term, when it could be more accurately determined what progress the Chinese measures for the eradication of opium had attained.
The Grand Secretary Na, after recapitulating in detail the terms of 1907 Arrange- ment, said that the Chinese Government had no intention of departing in any way There had been, it was from that Agreement, with which they were perfectly satisfied. true, several Memorials suggesting that the period of ten years should be shortened, and proposing the complete and immediate suppression of opium; but the Government considered that the programme originally laid down was more likely to effect the object in view.
In answer to a further inquiry, the Grand Secretary stated that the Chinese Commissioners would receive instructions in the above sense. They would have no power to initiate proposals, and would merely be charged with the duty of investigating and reporting.
Mr. Liang said that, as he understood it, the Commission was one of investigation. America was responsible for the Conference, and the idea of the United States' Government, when they proposed it to China, was that the measures taken in China for opium suppression might be usefully applied in the Philippines. He understood that the Delegates would furnish information regarding opium in their respective countries, and that they would proceed to a general investigation of the subject, but China had no intention at present of putting forward any definite proposals.
I thought it better to let the question rest here, as any endeavour to exclude the discussion of the issue and consumption of opium in India from the scope of the inquiry would scarcely, I think, have met with a favourable response.
Na Chung-tang mentioned in the course of the conversation that the Viceroy at Nanking would preside at the opening ceremony of the Commission, but that his Excellency would only remain in Shanghae for a day or two, and would be unable to take any further part in the deliberations.
I am sending a copy of this despatch to Sir Alexander Hosie, and asking him to communicate it to Sir Cecil Clementi Smith on his arrival,
I have, &c. (Signed)
J. N. JORDAN.
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